"So, you two want guidance or a sparring match?"
Looking at the teenage couple in front of him, who, after a bit of flirting, finally put on their protective gear and chatted with laughter, free of nervousness.
Coach Anma forced a friendly smile, speaking to draw their attention away from each other and toward him. Honestly, having worked here for nearly ten years and dealt with hundreds of couples, he could say he'd seen it all and was quite experienced. No scene was new to him.
Even so, watching this high school couple shamelessly flirt and tease each other in front of him—a middle-aged, single coach—still stirred a mix of sadness, anger, and bitterness in his heart, along with sorrow over his aging years. In short, he was deeply envious.
Recalling his high school days as the vice-captain of the city school's kendo club, he was fairly popular, receiving love letters in his shoe locker every three months on average—a golden era, you could say. But why had his once-flat, strong abs turned into a potbelly? And why had those innocent high school girls become mama-sans at entertainment venues?
The gloomy, despairing thoughts swirled briefly in his heart before Coach Anma quickly pulled himself together—envy was envy, but basic professionalism had to be maintained. He couldn't face customers with a jealous glare. At the very least, after work, he'd head to Ginza, find a slightly pricier woman to soothe his bitter heart…
"Let's just spar."
The two exchanged a glance, deciding without hesitation, their faces bearing strikingly similar smiles. Their synchronized response startled Coach Anma again, and he squinted his slightly chubby eyes, chuckling, "Got it. However, sparring carries some risk, so you both need to sign a liability waiver first. Then, before stepping into the arena, I'll personally demonstrate how to spar safely to avoid injuries."
They nodded, promptly accepting the waiver, reading it carefully from start to finish before signing their names. Unlike most customers he'd encountered, they seemed more cautious.
Of course, that wasn't the main point—for precaution, Coach Anma casually asked, "By the way, do either of you have relevant sports experience? Like kendo, martial arts, or something similar…"
The guy thought for a moment, then shook his head with a hint of helplessness. "If we're not counting games, none. I did want to check out the kendo club recently, but I haven't had the time."
"I see… No problem, our dojo offers the most comprehensive beginner kendo experience, no less than a club. You can give it a try later!"
Coach Anma enthusiastically patted his shoulder, but inwardly, he sneered with satisfaction.
…Hmph, just a homebound gamer. He quietly observed the guy's posture and his smooth, pale hands with few calluses, instantly feeling victorious—how could a mere gamer be this handsome and have such a beautiful girlfriend?
Professional ethics were still professional ethics, but that didn't stop him from slightly messing with this enviable guy within the rules. Coach Anma had done this plenty of times… Back in the kendo club, he was used to openly pranking juniors he didn't like with his skills, making them suffer without a chance to complain.
And this time, it was sure to be an entertaining sight, right?
(Somehow, after I said I had no relevant sports experience, the coach's expression and even his mindset seemed to shift slightly. More precisely, it's like a villain certain of victory this time, ready to strike with full confidence?)
(…Weird, did I offend him?)
(I observed my opponent briefly, then quickly looked away—his aura's too much like trash, I'm not interested at all.) Yuu thought to himself.
"As for me…" Asuna pondered, tilting her head. "Our school does have fencing lessons, but they only teach basic stances and etiquette. I didn't join any clubs, so you could say I only know a little?"
As if hearing something satisfying, Coach Anma nodded, his smile growing friendlier.
"In that case, I'll treat you both as beginners, alright?"
"Hm."
"Yes, please guide us!"
After signing the waivers, they were led by the coach to a large room covered with protective padding.
The air conditioning blew cool air, and many people inside were shouting and swinging their weapons—some made of wood, bamboo, or foam rubber. They looked somewhat dangerous, but most were laughing joyfully, immersed in the thrilling combat.
As for metal weapons, even unsharpened ones, a recreational facility like this wouldn't provide them, let alone let customers use them.
"Alright, for you two beginners, I suggest trying plastic weapons first to get a feel for it… What kind of weapons do you want to use?"
Leading them to a rack full of various weapons, Coach Anma introduced them casually, unintentionally picking up a bamboo sword. Yuu didn't look at the rack but turned to Asuna, smiling meaningfully.
"No need to hesitate on weapon choice, right?"
Their eyes met, and Asuna returned a radiant, sun-like smile.
"Of course!"
Their synergy extended from the virtual world to reality.
They stepped forward side by side, each picking up a plastic weapon to test its feel, but found it unsatisfactory and returned it. Finally, the weight of a wooden one-handed sword and a wooden rapier felt somewhat suitable.
"It's still different from the game…" Asuna muttered, swinging the rapier twice in complaint.
Yuu wasn't as picky. After choosing his weapon, he said to the coach, "The plastic ones lack impact. Wooden ones should be fine, right?"
"Of course, just be more careful. Wood can break bones, after all. You two don't want to hurt each other, do you?"
After giving some pointers, Coach Anma handed them protective goggles.
"The key points go without saying—no hitting unprotected body parts. Control your strength to avoid injuries… I assume you understand basic safety, so for anything unclear, it's better to experience it yourselves."
Like a writer finishing a story's setup, Coach Anma squinted with a smile, deliberately offering to Yuu, "For example, sir, would you like a practice duel with me?"
"Relax, it's just beginner guidance. I won't use my full strength."
(But if I accidentally embarrass you, make you fall, or scare you into cowering in front of your girlfriend, I can't guarantee anything…)
The last part, of course, Coach Anma didn't say aloud, only smiling inwardly. Based on his dozen or so experiences, after saying that first line, eager young guys would take the bait.
No way they'd back down in front of their girlfriends. They'd rely on some half-baked anime moves they practiced, like Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū or Breathing Styles, to confidently face off against a forty-something coach… Was this okay? No, it wasn't.
Because those who did this usually got beaten senseless by his trained skills, ultimately surrendering obediently, admitting defeat.
That's the expression he wanted to see—the embarrassed, excuse-making, flushed face of someone cocky in front of others. The joy of messing with kids was this simple and satisfying.
"If there's no issue, sir, shall we prepare?"
Coach Anma smiled at Yuu, his tone slightly challenging.
His calculations were precise; he'd thought through various ways to handle this, just waiting for the young man to accept his practice duel to add a bit of fun to his dull coaching life.
The one thing he didn't expect was that before Yuu could say anything, Asuna stepped forward, smiling at him.
"Coach, may I?"
"…Huh?"
Caught off guard, Coach Anma blinked, his face showing surprise with his mouth slightly agape.
Glancing back at Yuu, the beautiful brown-haired girl looked again at the slightly chubby middle-aged coach. Her neat brows dipped slightly, but a soft, beautiful smile appeared on her face.
"I'm very interested in a practice duel. If you don't mind, could you let me try first?"
"…"
For some reason, despite the girl's gentle tone and sweet smile, Coach Anma felt a chill creep up from his tailbone, piercing straight to his brain. The situation was slowly veering off his expectations.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Standing on opposite sides of a cushioned mat.
Coach Anma, on the left, struggled to maintain his composure, holding his bamboo sword in a standard chudan stance.
On the right, Asuna held her sword horizontally, knees slightly bent, arms drawn back. After adjusting her position, she stood still as a statue, her eyes sharply fixed on the middle-aged man like a blade.
A cold, piercing aura gathered around her, as if ready to slice through the air at any moment, sending chills down one's spine.
"If only I could've found a reason to refuse…"
Staring at the steady wooden sword tip in the air, though its edge was dulled and he wore thick protective gear, Coach Anma still broke into a cold sweat, regret welling up from deep within, wanting to stop this now.
This girl was definitely lying earlier!
Forget her aura—without long-term training, how could her hands be this steady?!
Unaware of his thoughts, Yuu, standing as referee in the center, raised his hand and began counting down slowly, "Both sides in position, ready—"
"Wait! That's not how you call a match…"
Before his opponent could finish, Yuu cut him off.
"Coach, this isn't a formal match either. We're here to have fun, so does it matter what we shout?"
"Uh…"
Coach Anma was speechless, gripping his bamboo sword tightly, facing the poised girl nervously. Yuu didn't make them wait long, decisively swinging his hand down.
"Start!"
As the word rang out, dull footsteps sounded, and her pristine white skirt fluttered like snowy waves.
"Hyaaahhh!"
With a familiar long shout, Asuna guarded her side with her left hand, holding the rapier straight with her right. Her long, white-stockinged legs confidently stepped onto the cushioned mat, closing the distance, darting toward Coach Anma like a swallow.
The path traced by her rapier was like a brown meteor.
A nostalgic sight.
With such feelings, Yuu watched Asuna charge at the coach, delivering a not-so-standard, slower-than-in-game Quadruple Pain, thrusting directly at his protected upper body.
*PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!*
Coach Anma seemed careless, neither dodging nor defending, just staring blankly at the fierce-faced girl before him, as if she wanted to annihilate all Minotaurs.
Facing an opponent who didn't fight back, Asuna paused for half a second. Then, her brown hair swirled as she stepped and spun gracefully, canceling her body's stiffness with inertia, smoothly swinging her second strike from the side.
"Diagonal Thrust!"
At that moment, Coach Anma's bamboo sword finally rose, as if to strike downward. Asuna's brows furrowed slightly, her movements uninterrupted, ready in her mind to counter—
"Stop! I surrender… No, the practice ends here! You two can play on your own!"
"…"
Seeing Coach Anma raise both hands, sweating coldly and feigning calm in a surrender pose, Asuna froze, but her swung sword couldn't be stopped.
Though she tried to hold back some force, the dulled rapier tip still struck the unprepared Coach Anma's side waist, making him groan in pain and stumble back.
"Y-You kids… no martial arts etiquette…"
Asuna: "…"
*KLANG!*
The low echo of a wooden rapier clashing with a one-handed sword resounded in the large hall.
"I had a feeling he had bad intentions toward me, though I don't know why… But I didn't expect you to step up and protect me like that."
Yuu casually swung his sword to parry the thrust, its tip tracing a circle, slashing upward from the left under her pleated skirt.
"I just had a hunch too… His gaze on you was creepy, and that practice fight felt off, so I couldn't help stepping in."
Asuna hopped lightly to dodge the diagonal slash, her lightning-fast rapier following up, thrusting at his protected left wrist. She glared sharply, shouting softly, "Anyone who wants to touch my boyfriend has to go through me first!"
*PANG!*
Twisting the sword handle to block the incoming strike, Yuu, with a non-standard stance and deliberately slowed speed, slashed at her four times in succession.
*PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!*
Retreating repeatedly, Asuna struggled to take the hits, her face showing disbelief. "Horizontal Square Slash… How can you use such a complex sword technique?!"
"My physical condition can keep up, but yours can't." Standing easily back in position with his sword, Yuu smiled, looking at her clean, slightly sweaty forehead. "Using Quadruple Pain was your limit, right? And you still want to protect me? Train more, rapier knight."
"Ughh~" Pouting discontentedly, Asuna took a deep breath, her expression slowly turning serious. She lowered her slender, graceful body again, her rapier held flat at her side, its tip precisely aimed at his protected body. It was one of the fastest and strongest high-level rapier skills—Star Splash.
"If you don't dodge the next attack… it'll hurt a bit!"
With that soft shout, Asuna suddenly stomped her foot, her body turning into a brown flash, thrusting straight at him—
If she hadn't tripped, that's how the scene would've gone.
"Uwaah!"
Falling forward unconsciously, Asuna flailed her arms in the air, her brain not yet reacting. The next second, her body crashed into a familiar chest. As if to cushion the impact, she fell lightly backward, letting him take the brunt, becoming her cushion.
Both wooden weapons fell to the side, but aside from Coach Anma, who only dared watch from afar to ensure their safety, no one paid them attention.
"See, I was right, wasn't I?"
Lying unharmed on the ground, Yuu looked at Asuna's slightly dazed face, squinting and smiling happily.
"So, until you're stronger than me, let me protect you, Asuna."
"…"
Lying on his chest, Asuna blinked in confusion, not responding immediately, just quietly studying his face. From his eyes to his nose, from his nose to the shape of his lips, she examined every inch carefully.
As if wanting to etch it all into her heart, she gazed deeply, calmly, and focused, her eyes flowing softly as if melting.
"What's up?" After a long silence, Yuu asked.
Though the protective gear separated them, all her softness still pressed tightly against him; if not for the inappropriate setting, he might've felt excited.
"…Nothing, Yuu-kun."
Asuna shook her head, smiling as she always did. She suddenly spread her arms, hugging him tightly as he lay on the ground, then let out a satisfied sigh.
"I just wanted to say, I really, really love you."
Without the slightest surprise, Yuu patted her head, treating her like a child, smiling helplessly.
"I already knew that."